ENGG958 Life Cycle and Risk Management
Assignment 3: A workplace-based report
Study Guide
This assessment task involves collaborative team arrangement efforts and designed to explore engineering asset management as a system incorporating life cycle management. You will have the opportunity to look at theses frameworks in the notes and the standards and compare your own views with your team mates in the group discussion space in preparing for this assignment. This discussion along with your various industrial experiences will give you a good basis to visualize the abstract asset management system within its industrial context .
This assignment is a continuation to assignment 1 and 2 that involves identifying engineering asset management as a system and understanding its structure in terms of activities and relationships. As a team you need to select an asset preferably the same assets selected in assignment 2 and identify the asset management system associated with it within its context: “the organisation’s system”. This is to be done through demonstrating applicability of a standard, framework or a model and utilizing or tailoring it to the need within the asset management system for improving the management of a particular asset or set of assets in any organization or industry. It also explores the role of this engineering asset management system in the organisation management system and organisational strategy.
Key questions
Over the course of the assignment you should be developing an increasingly sophisticated response to related key questions that an asset manager/ engineer should be able to answer.
1. What is the structure of engineering asset management and how does exist within an organization?
2. What are the interfaces or interrelationships between the engineering asset management system and other activities of an organisation?
3. What is the role of engineering asset management in the organization’s management and strategy and how to improve its role for better contribution to the organisation?
Purpose:
• Explore asset management as a system incorporating life cycle management.
• To demonstrate applicability of a standard, framework or a model and utilizing or tailoring it to the need within the asset management system for improving the management of a particular asset or set of assets in any organization or industry.
Associated subject learning outcomes
Following the completion of the work set out in this guide you should be able to:
1. Articulate the context and contribution of asset management as a discipline.
2. Understand the interfaces between the discipline and other activities of an organisation.
3. Select and apply appropriate models and standards to specific asset management situations.
Working arrangement:
Team task, as per Assignment 2: the same teams of 3 or 2 will continue to work together. Any issues that arise with the operation of the team should be notified to the lecturers immediately to ensure a suitable learning environment is maintained for all participants. Team members are to declare their contributions on the inside cover. Marks may be distributed on that basis but will normally be distributed equally among the team. One report is required as a team submission. File names for submissions must contain the 3-names and be in the form Asst1_Family Names.doc,: e.g. Asst2_JonesFiatZhang.doc.
Participants will be notified of their fellow team members on elearning.
Assignment 3 Sequential Task Breakdown
(i) As a team use one of the studied frameworks or standards to identify the asset management system associated with the same selected asset or set of assets in assignment 2. This includes the asset management system activities and the control elements.
(ii) In utilizing the framework or standard in (i) establish the boundaries (crossed by relationships) of the asset management system and identify the major functions (asset-related activities: life cycle or support activities) within the organisation with which the asset management system interacts: e.g. the finance system and the human resources system. Define the nature of those interactions. You may do this by using a table, setting out each function and the details of the relationship. The table may be supported by a diagram to illustrate the relationships, if desired.
(iii) Evaluate one of the functions that you identified in response to part (ii) and recommend improvements to one aspect of this function that may be triggered by a new role or a change of the current asset management control or interaction.
Maximum 5000 words report composing the 3-parts
Topics
In addition to the topic covered by assignment 1, following the completion of the work set out in this guide you should have a working knowledge of the following topics:
5. System thinking, system theory and the management system
• Engineering asset management; the relevance of system theory to engineering asset management; system framework; system management and engineering asset management in context
6. Frameworks for asset management
• Framework for engineering asset management; strategic management and engineering asset management in context; application/adaptation of basic tools; interfaces with other functions (departments and organisations)
7. Key asset related activities
• The role of asset management activities for technical system development. Use of frameworks for engineering asset management in context
8. Standards as a framework for asset management
• Available standard for asset management. Use, application/adaptation of standards as frameworks for engineering asset management in context
9. Developing an Asset Management Strategy
• The role of asset management within the organization’s strategy process: Strategy development and implementation, strategic management and engineering asset management in context, application/adaptation of basic tools; available models, frameworks and standards, relevant uses of business models and strategy drivers.
Key references
1. Subject topic notes for topics 5 – 9 : available on elearning.
2. Section or chapters of text book as indicated by the study guide in subject outlines
3. eReadings in topic groups (see document in general section of ENGG958 e-learning site
Procedure
Stage1. Deciding on a Framework or Standard and Utilizing it for the Need
Learning activity Learning resources
• Read the assessment rubric for assignment 3 and consider requirements.
• Read the relevant topics notes
• Answer the key questions for each of these topics. Check textbook section or ereading for more details on specific issues.
• Relate your gained understanding to your industrial experience or discuss the matter with industry mentors or working colleagues and identify a framework or a standard that has potential to propose to your team for use in this assignment task.
• Meet up with team mates on discussion group or by other means and decide on selecting one of the frameworks or standards proposed and agreeing on team arrangement, management and task allocation.
• Utilizing/tailoring the selected framework/standard, each team member should try to identify the asset management system associated with the same selected asset or set of assets and establish its structure in terms of activities and the control elements.
• Each member should post his trial on the group discussion space on elearning, give feedback to team mates on their trials and get feedback from them. After this, team members should agree on combining a final structure of the engineering asset system.
• Draft a report on this part of assignment 3
? Assignment 3: Assessment Rubric
? Subject topic notes for topics 5 – 9 : available on elearning.
? Section or chapters of text book as indicated by the study guide in subject outlines
? Standards available on elearning/library website
? Workplace, site Visit of relevant industry or
Industry Mentors
? eReadings in topic groups
? See documents in general section of ENGG958 elearning site
? Wollongong Library website
(www.library.uow.edu.au)
Stage 2. Define the Structure of Engineering Asset Management
Learning activity Learning resources
• Based on the finding of stage 1, each team should establish the boundaries (crossed by relationships) of the asset management system and identify the major functions (asset-related activities: life cycle or support activities) within the organisation with which the asset management system interacts: e.g. the finance system and the human resources system.
• As a team discuss and map out and define the nature of those interactions. You may do this by using a diagram or a table, setting out each function and the details of the links relationships. The table may be supported by a diagram to illustrate the relationships, if desired.
• Write a draft on this part of assignment 3. ? Assignment 3: Assessment Rubric
? Subject topic notes for topics 5 – 7 :
available on elearning.
? Standards available on elearning/library website
? Section or chapters of text book as indicated by the study guide in subject outlines
? Workplace, site Visit of relevant industry or Industry Mentors
? eReadings in topic groups
? See documents in general section of ENGG958 e-learning site
Stage 3. Addressing the Benefit of Using a Framework or Standard
Learning activity Learning resources
• Based on the findings of stage 1 and 2, as a team select one of the functions (asset-related activities: life cycle or support activities) that you identified in response to part (ii)
• As a team discuss and evaluate the status of engineering asset management in association with the management/control or relationship with this function.
• As a team discuss and highlight any deficiency and/or recommend improvement to one aspect of this function that may be triggered by a new role or a change of the current asset management control or interaction
• Write a draft of your conclusion and recommendation part of assignment 3 report
• Finalize and compile all parts of assignment 3 report in one file and review the whole report and name it as directed in the subject outlines: Asst1_Family Names.doc: e.g. Asst2_JonesFiatZhang.doc.
? Workplace, site Visit of relevant industry or
Industry Mentors
? Assessment rubric
? Previous submission examples
Stage 4. Submission and Reflection on feedback
Learning activity Learning resources
• Submit your assignment 3 report on elearning drop box.
• Your lecturer will provide feedback on your work according to the assessment criteria in the assessment rubric. As a professional development activity it is recommended that you write a reflection on these comments in a personal learning journal. o What have you learned through and from this assignment?
o How would it change your report if you were asked to provide it to your workplace supervisor?
? Assessment rubric
Assessment Rubric
Criteria Unacceptable Acceptable Good Excellent Weight
System boundaries, interfaces, key functions and their interrelationships established. Significant interrelationships not identified
0-to-9% Major functions and interrelationships identified
10% -to 14% Functions and interrelationships identified including the significance of the relationships 15% -to-20% Allows understanding of the nature of the asset management system and its role within the organisation. 20% -to 25% 25%
Systematic approach to the analysis is taken. No process evident
0-to-14% Process devised
20%-to-29% Process referenced to available methodologies 20% -to-25% Process referenced to available methodologies which have been critiqued against their required use for the case analysed.
25% -to 30% 30%
Criteria for improvement in performance related to output, cost, asset life or the like, that results in some contribution to the overall objective of asset management. No connection to overall requirements made.
0-to-9% Connection made to overall performance requirements. 10% -to 14% Detailed connection made to overall performance requirements.
15% to 20% 20%
Argument of change is evidence based. No evidence
0-to-9% Support for recommendation provided
10% -to 14% Support for recommendation flow from analysis undertaken
15% -to-20% Support for recommendations flow from analysis undertaken with consideration of implementation issues.
20% -to 25% 25%
Grade ______ Comments